Archive for the ‘Lowcountry area’ Category

The Great Blue Heron and the Snake that Wouldn’t Give Up!

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

It was lunchtime when my wife called excitedly to me: “There’s a Great Blue Heron across the lagoon trying to eat a snake – and it looks like the snake is wrapped around the heron’s neck!” I quickly grabbed the video camera and picked up the action with the heron trying to figure out how to get the snake off its neck and into its gullet!

I’m not sure what kind of snake it was – either a black racer or a water moccasin, I believe – but its head was already part way down the heron’s throat when I started the video. (Take a look at the heron’s neck – it’s pretty fat with the snake part-ways in to it.)

But that snake must have seen the “Never, ever give up!” cartoon with the frog wrapping its hands around a heron’s throat, as it had wrapped itself around this Great Blue Heron’s neck and head. The heron was trying to figure out how to get itself out of this predicament and devour his uncooperative lunch. We’ll pick up the action there …

(more…)

Turtles Stage Log-Rolling Competition

Monday, June 28th, 2010

It started as a peaceful summer afternoon in the lagoon behind our house: two Yellow-bellied Slider turtles relaxed on a floating log, enjoying the sunshine amid the languid waters.  But when a third turtle decided to join them, MAYHEM broke out – and the ensuing “Log-rolling Olympics” had the turtles scrambling to stay afloat!

Catch all the action here:

(more…)

Savannah NWR resource page added

Friday, May 14th, 2010

I just created a new resource page for the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) out along the Savannah River between Hardeeville, SC, and Savannah, GA.  This is a great Lowcountry birding hotspot, especially during the spring and fall waterfowl migrations.

Savannah NWR impoundment with Shovelers and Blue-Winged Teal

Savannah NWR impoundment with Shovelers and Blue-Winged Teal

The new Visitor Center opened in March, 2010, and is a great place for the whole family to learn more about the refuge and the wildlife that lives (or stops by) there.  Make sure to see the 11-minute video about the refuge and its connection to the Savannah River, as well as the great exhibits.

Savannah NWR Visitor Center exhibits

Savannah NWR Visitor Center exhibits

Welcome to the Lowcountry Birder!

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

The Lowcountry Birder is a labor of love produced by a “Damn Yankee” (Translation: a Northerner from “Away” who decided to stay instead of going back North when vacation was over!) who now lives with his wife and adult “special needs” son just a couple of miles inland (“as the osprey flies”) from Pinckney Island NWR and Hilton Head Island.

I’ve been involved in watching birds and nature for 45 years now – since my childhood growing up on a farm in western PA.  I started out with a pair of 3x binoculars and the “Golden Book of Birds.”  At age 12, my grandfather gave me his pair of Binolux 7×50 binoculars and his old (1947 edition) of Roger Tory Peterson’sField Guide to the Birds” – and I was hooked!  (I still have that field guide – it’s been all over the country!)

Living here in the Lowcountry of SC is like living in a birder’s paradise – you never know what “exotic” bird may fly over or swim past in the back yard.  Being able to share it with all y’all makes it even more enjoyable.

I hope that you find this site useful – I’m just getting started, but have lots of plans to make it an interactive “hotspot” for birdwatchers living in or visiting the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  Look for lots of pictures, videos, events, etc. to be added soon!

Mr. LCB